How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

Updated on January 8, 2015

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

Self Care

This may become a problem. Why? Well now you have to take more care of yourself and make heavy changes in your personality and life style. Now you need to learn to say: " NO" and delegate and leave things for tomorrow. Now you need to realize that this is a long term program. We are not like normal people establish a routine until you feel better and stop. This will become a way of life for survival.

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

Management

Remain active as much as possible. Always allow time for relaxation. Do your best to reduce stress and overexertion. Develop breathing exercises to alleviate anxiety.

Sleep- getting a good night sleep is best said than done. Yet it has been noted that If you get up and go to bed at the same time everyday helps train your body to a pattern. Avoid napping if possible but if you had a bad night and are having a hard time keeping your eyes open then by all means listen to your body.

Exercise- Now remember this word takes a whole new meaning with fibromyalgia some are unable to exercise and the only thing they can do is take 10 min walks. If that is your level that is all right. Note that at first it will give you pain there is no way around it. As you establish a routine according to your limitations you will see a difference in pain level. Talk to your physical therapist about your worries and what you want to accomplish with your routine. Stretches are a must. Aquatic exercises is also a very good option.

Pace yourself don't over do it just cause you are having a good day. Thrust me you will pay for it tomorrow.

Also change your eating habits. Now i'm not saying go on a diet. Everyone is different even on this. I suggest you get a food allergy test done and a good nutritionist that can help you design a program specifically for you. It wasn't until I did this i found out I was allergic to peach, pineapple, apples, watermelons, mushrooms, beef, msg, soy, corn, diary, cucumbers, pecans, peanuts, garllic, onions, black pepper. peas, cauliflower, spinach,shrimp, coffee, chocolate, green dye and mustard. So I was eating myself up to inflammation.

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

Alternative treatments

Message therapy helps the muscles relax and your range of motion.

Acupuncture- some find this useless but others find it very beneficial.

Support groups- Fibrotalk.com is an online support group. Fibrotv.com is awesome many informative podcast. Search for local support groups too. National Fibromyalgia Association and the American Chronic Pain Association are also good sources of support.

Take medication religiously. Pay attention to your body. Rearrange everything to get rest. This means saying no to many things. Don't make commitments to far ahead. If you do let them now that there is a big chance you may have to cancel. It’s difficult when others don’t understand for you don’t look sick. So be prepare to come across as irresponsible if you can’t keep appointments. Learn from your mistakes. Take time to relax just lay down to rest your eyes and meditate soft music helps. Use a cold eye mask with lavender scented to help you relax. If your muscles ache take a hot bath with lavender scented oil to help you relax before bedtime.

Make these changes a little at the time. It can become overwhelming but it isn't impossible. Take your time to learn who you are all over again. You will see the benefits in the long run. Don't dispair. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

Support and Understanding

Doctors:

When your family Doctor says she is happy with your management routine. Hopes more of her patients took it as serious as you do. That is a step in the right direction. Don't take it lightly. Honesty like this is very hard to find.

You are more likely to find Doctors with very limited knowledge on Fibromyalgia and when you find one who believes its all in your head. No need to scream just pick up your things and walk away. Find one that is willing to work with you not againts you. I find if a Doctor doesn't believe it to exist they will not try hard enough to find out what is causing your symptoms. Most of the time they will just send you to someone else because this isn't "my problem" to solve. Don't get angry just go on find someone that will help and just don't recommend him to your friends.

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

Family Members

When you have understanding relatives and upbuilding doctors your are one step closer to a happier you. In the begining there may not be much of it. Be prepare for it.

One important thing that helps to coop with having fibro is the understanding of family members. In my case I only had to showed him an awareness video I found in fibroqueendom.com and that was all it took for him to understand. He helps around the house and cares for me when I have a flare up. He defends me when others don’t seem to get it and help others understand my new circumstances. This may not be your case but don't worry. Some willl eventually get it. Make it clear that you need to fight this illness together not fight with each other.

Humour

Since you are in the process of getting to know yourself. You may find it hard answering questions like: "how are you today? " I used to get upset when i would get asked every day the same question. In my head I would be like: "Hello! don't you get it fibro is pain every for the rest of my life SAME AS YESTERDAY STUPID!" Then a weird: I'm Ok, will come out. I found humour is great for these weird moments.

For example: I have this inside joke with my Sister – in – law. Having fibro is like been run over by a train at full speed. So if is a “Good” day we say it’s an “old guy in a scooter day” to describe that I’m still feeling like I was run over by something but is manageable today. Other times are “Run over by a car day” Or “by a bus day” If I say “I was drop from a plane no parachutte day” that is a flare up.

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

Bonded by Chronic illness

You may also find that you have more in common with some relatives. For example: I have an uncle with depression and sleep apnea and his wife has fibro and there daughters oldest have epilepsy and youngest has bad diabetes. I talk with them a lot and chronic illness has made us closer so not all is bad. We can relate and sympathies with each other.

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

Well intended ignorance

You will come across a few who have good intentions but say stupid things like you know if you boost your immune system you will feel better. If you had a baby you wouldn't have so many health issues or if you loose some weight you would feel better. I take it as well intention ignorance and not let it get to me. Change conversation and don’t give it a second thought. I send a few awareness videos and emailed them to my contact list of friends and family. I found that many had no idea of all the symptoms involved with fibro. They said they only associated pain and fatigue with fibro. So that would be a good thing to do to educate other on the matter.

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

Expecting too much

Remember that someone who is in pain all the time will be depressed, angry, frustrated and scared this is normal. So don't feel too guilty this willl make you worst. Don't expect too much of yourself or others. Find a new hobby, spend more time at church or with a grandchild. Keep yourself busy when your symptoms permit will help you be positive under your circumstances.

How to Succeed at Beating Fibromyalgia

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